Cable connecter



Feb. 24, L. H CHURCH CABLE comwcwan' Filed March 31, 192'? Patented Feb.24, 1931 stares PATENT orri LEVIS H.

OF ELIZABETH, NEVJ JERSEY,

CHURCH, OF ROSELLE, JERSEY, ASSIGN :OR TO THE THOMAS & BETTS (10.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW? JERSEY oennn oonnno'rnn Application filed March31,

This invention relates to cable connectors to, fasten cable to electricfixture and outlet boxes."

.Anobject is to produce a cable connector whereina feature of theinvention residesin a single clamp device which performs two mainfunctions, that of securing the cable to the box and anchoring theconnector in the box, there being provided asingle operating means suchas a screw which is threaded into and carried with the clamp to causethe sin gle clamp to perform its two or more functions; and I may referto the clamp as a combination cable and box clamp and which is soconstructed and arranged as to protect the cable from direct contactwith the screw.

' A further object of the invention is to pros duce a cable connectorwhich exposes the box hole edge directly to a cable therein placed, i;e. to produce an improved exposed box hole edge type cable connectorwherein the cable is gripped between the exposed box edge and connector,certain features of novelty residing in the single clamp element ofU-shaped design to perform the two functions by a singleoperating meanssuch as a screw, and novelty also residing in the screw carried freelywithina connecter member but threaded through the clamp, the screwpreferably being disposed insidethe box.

It is also an object to producea cable connecter, the frame or connectermember of which does not necessarily require a screw threaded hole inwhich to place the screw but the member is so made that it includes an 7opening for freely mounting the screw inposition, the screw acting tohold the connector member and clamp in assembled relation, and theconnector frame member is novel in these and other respects.

Other objects are apparent from the following description andaccompanying drawlng showing examples of the invention, wherein:

The first three. figures show the primary member of the cable connectorbefore assen bling therewith the operating means such as a screw and thenovel clamp, it being understood that the connecter member need notnecessarily be made in sleeve form although Cir in parallel relationadapted to spread apart W 1927. Serial No. 179,749.

against the cable, and that of anchoring against the box hole edge.

Figure 4 shows the stamping from which the cable and box clamp is made;and Figure 5 is a View in perspective showing the completed U'shapedclamp plate which in reality includes two clamp arms normally disposedand exert a powerful gripping force against both the cable and borehole.

Figure 6 shows a sectional box assembly with the connector restingloosely Wltllll'l a 1 i 7 box hole before a cable is inserted and beforethe operating means is tightened up,

csi

the section being taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional box assembly View looking down onFigure 6 with the connecter in elevation.

Figure 8 is a box assembly view similar to Figure 6 but showing a cablesecured in the box hole by the connector with the operating screwtightened up and the U-shaped clamp in finally anchored position againstboth the cable and box hole edge.

Figure 9 is sectional view on the line 99 of Figure 8, being an outsidebox end View.

Figures 10 and 11 are, respectively, a top View and a side longitudinalsectional view of a modified form of cable connector wherein theconnector member is of full sleeve form, as distinguished from theexposed box hole edge type or form, so that the cable rests entirelywithin the sleeve connector and is therefore not gripped against theexposed box hole edge.

Figure 12 shows a sectional box assembly m View of the combinati n ableand box clamp together with an operating screw used alone I chored inthe box B and electric wiring con 7 the clamp to make itgrip againsttwoparts,

' as a cable connecter without the frame memher part. v

Electric fixture and outlet boxes B are made with knock-out openings orholes H to receive the connecter and cable C. By use of the improvedconnecter the cable C isannectic-ns are made in the usual way inside[thetbox with the wires VJ extendin ithrou h; I :3 a the box hole.

In general; the cable connecter comprises a member on which iscarrie'd acombination .cable and box two arm clamp having a novel mode ofoperation and in this instance being lJ-shaped in form, both arms ofwhich serve. in a gripping capaclty, a screw or other operating meansperforming the double purpose of holding together the connecter memberand the clamp and expanding both arms of namely the cable and box. Theoperating 11199J1S1S carried with the cable and box clampand reacts tomove both arms of said clamp, one arm against thebox hole edgeand theother arm against the cable.

" for the reception of, or through which is To further describe theinvention. reference is made to the drawing wherein the connecter memberis shown as an example in the form of a sleeve 14 preferably formed witha bushing 15 at one end against which the ragged extremity oi 'the cableC rests and out through which extend the wires W into the box B. Theconnecter member may be provided with a notch 16 in the bushing passed,one arm or end of a clamp shown in Figure later' described. The sleeveis slotted as at 17, this slot extending from the outer end of theconnecter member 14 back towards, the bushing end for the purpose 7 ofreceiving one or both arms of the clamp.

' The sleeve extension 19 therefore extends be-' The connecter member 14is also partly cut away at its outer end to form a transverse abutmentface 18 adapted to rest against the insideb wall. ,Thetransversecut-awayline 18 extends oartl throu h the sleeve leavin b a pro ect1on19 111 WlllCh the slot 17 is formed.

yond and overhangs the abutment end or edge 18 of the connecter memberand affords length to the slot 17 to movablv receive the tree endsoitheclamp arms. Theiorm and construction of the connecter member 14 1s vsuch than when mounted in the box hole H. a

portion of said box hole edge is left-exposed directly to a cable C withthe connecter extension 19 projecting throughthe box hole andoverhangingthe exposed box hole edge portion.

The connecter member may also include a rib 20 in the same plane withthe abutment edge 18, this rib reaching over the connecter extension to'abut against the box wall and fix the connecter against movement in onedirection. In fact the rib 20 makes the sleeve 1 too large to passthrough the box hole so that only the sleeve extension 19 projectsthereth'rough. The connecter member .14 is therefore of suitable size tofit in the box hole and includes C"l13&XVfiy11182111S to expose aportion'of the hole edgedirectly against a cable. Th us the member 14 isso formed as to extend into the box hole and be stopped by the abutment18-2O to fix it against, movement in one direction and uncover the boxedge.

The clamp device and single operating "means will now be described andreference is made to Figures 4 and 5 which merely show an example ot theLl-shaped' comb'lnatlon cabio and box clamp plate which is subject tovarious changes in form and use. Characteristically, one arm of theclamp anchors against the box edge and the ot i'er arm grips against thecable;

The clamp device comprises a stamping bent upon itself at'23 and havingflexible ends or clamp plate arms 21 and 22 connected by the bend a3which may lie within the notch 16 so as not to interfere with thebushing 15. The clamp member 2122 is of general U-shaped design and isprovided with a tapped screw hole 24ior the reception of operating meanssuch as a cable clamp screw 26. The free end of the box clamp arm 21 isprovided wi h suitable box hole anchorage means in the form of a. groove27 adapted to engage the box hole edge l'l proximate the connecterextension 19 while the cable clamp plate 22 is designed to press or gripagainst the cable C. The clamp arms flex at the arch or bend 28 thusclose or separate.

description of the connecter member 14 ,and the novel clamp plate 2122has been given and it is seen that they are assembled by inserting thellrshaped clamp on the connecter member and then passing the shank ofthe screw 26 through the slot 17 of the connecter member 14. The'screw36 is rundown against the cable clamp plate 22 and thus the screw holdsthe connecter member 14 and theifiexible clamp 21-22 together withoutresorting to the formation cit a special screw hole made through theconnecter member for the reception of the screw. The arched or bent end23 abuts one end of the connecter member while the screw shank abuts theend of the slot 17' and thereby prevents movement of the clamp in eitherdirection. I

The clamp arms 21 and 22. are in effect loosely confined within theslot'17 which permits the outer free ends of the clamp arms'to closelyapproach each other in order that the connecter may be readily insertedintosmall size knockouts. The slot 17 is therefore usefulas a passageforthe screw and an opening for the clamp arms, particularly the groovedend 27 of the upper clamp arm which must flex down into the slot 17 whenthe connecter is insertedwithin a smallsize box hole. The

screw. is free of the connector member 1 1 *since it is screw threadedthru and, carried a with the clampfthescrewshank being thread- .oi r f.to enect a separating rt.

ed into one armiandbearing on the other arm etlOll.

' The assembly views show how the connecter is mounted within the box.Prefew ably the connector is placed in the box hole trom the insidethereof, before the screw 26 is screwed down through the box clamp arm21. In other words the two clamp arms 21 and 22 lie proximate andparallel I to each other when the connector is inserted in the box hole.Furthermore the two clamp arms extend past the stop means rib so that 1both free ends of the arms 21 and 22 reach to or preferably extend pastthe box wall and thru the box hole. There upon a cable C is inserted andthe screw 26 is run down a inst the" cable clamp plate 22,the result l-Ly y of which sto spread apart the clamp arms 21 and 22.

This action of the screw firmly anchors the groove 27 of the box clamparm 21 against j the box hole ed 'e and forces the cable clamp plate 22down againstthe cable C thereby gripping thecable between the exposedbox hole H and the flexible cable clamp plate 22. The reaction of thescrew 26 spreads apart the U-shaped clamp 21-22 and the downwardpressureoftheplate 22 against the cable C together with the upward pre sure ofthe box clamp arm groove 2? against the box hole edge very firmlyanchors the connecter member 14: in place within the box hole andagainstthe inner wall of the box due to the opposition of forces exerted by thetwo clamp arms against. the box and cable. In this way thesleeve 14 capsover and bushes the sharp ragged end of the cable C inside the box. i

Figures 10 and 11 show a modified form ofthe invention wherein thesleeve 30 -does not expose the box hole edge to the cable when theconnector is inserted in the box hole, but in this instance thesleeve 30receives the cable directly thereinto and the cable is fastened withinand against the sleeve wall. The sleeve '30 is slotted at 31 for thereception of the box'hole edge anchorage arm groove 27 and the sleevemay be perforated at 32 for the reception of the screw. A rib 38encircles the sleeve as a box wall abutment to stop the connector memberagainst the box. As far as thetwo-purpose clamp is concerned in FigureslOand 11, it may be constructed and used in about the same manner as inthe main form of the. invention as above described am. comprises thebox. hole anchorage groove 27 on the free end of the box clamp arm 21together with the cable clamp plate 22. The two clamp arm portions areseparated by reactionof the screw 26 when it is screwed thru the boxanchorage clamp arm 21 and advances against the cable clamp plate 22.

In Figure 12 there is shown another modified form of the inventionwherein the novel combination box and cable clamp and operating meansare used alone without the connecter. member or frame letto carry theseparts, this View serving to further illustrate he principle of theinvention. The screw 26 delivers pressure to the cable clamp plate 22and the screw reacts thereby lifting upwardly on box anchorage arm 21bending it at the end 23 to lift the anchorage groove 27 against the110:; hole edge H. In other words the clamp 21-22 moves apart rith greatforce, the cable clamp plate 22 gripping against the cable and the boxanchorage arm 21 fastening itself upon the box hole edge. In this way ia single U-shaped clamp performs the double purpose of anchoring itselfagainst the box hole ed e and n 3 nno a alnst the cable and b 3': o b

both tnnctions are carried out by the lone operating screw 26 withoutthe use of the convention. are both caused to react along the plane ofthe box wall, and to attain this mode of operation I bend the clampplate into llshape form to dispose both free ends of the arms across thebox wall plane so that maximum separating reaction and movement mayoccur at the box wall for it is at and agar st the box wall that boththe cable and the con.

necter are anchored in the main form of the invention.

.In the novel construction of the connector member 1 1 shown in the mainform of the invention, it is clear that the cut-away face or sleeve end18 exposes the box edge to receive the cable C firmly seatedthereagainst,

while the slot 17 above the edge18 is designed among other things touncover and pose another portion of the box hole edge to the clamp arm21 in order that the anchoraez'o groovemeans 27 may fasten itself uponthe box edge.

Therefore the box edge is exposed to the clamp arm by the slot 17 in thecut-awav sleeve 14 and by theslot 31 in the full sleeve 30. or by othersuitable means whether or not by slots. the principle being the in bothand other forms of the invention. The

main point is that I make the box clamp arm 21 long enough to reach tothe box wall and I may provide acut-away slot 1.? and 31. to permit thefull end of the box clamp arm to work up and down therein.

What I claim is:

1. A connecter comprising; a combinatimi cable and boxclamp including.abox clamp arm with box hole; edge anchorage means pro imate one endthereof, and a cable clamp plate carried with the boxclamp arm; a

connect-er member on which the combination cable and box clamp iscarried, the end of said member adaptedto abut the box-hole wall,

and operating means carried with the combi nation cable and box clamp tosimultaneously move both ends of'said clamp to force the parts together.

one arm and movably engaging the other arm to spread the arms, and aconnecter member having a portion thereof disposed between the armsincluding an open space thru which the operating means loosely fits tohold the ,3. A connecter comprising, a member formed to fit into a boxhole and including against a cable.

means to expose a portion of the box hole edge, a combination cable andbox clamp separate from the member carried on the member opposite to thebox hole edge exposing means, anchorage means on one end of the clamp tofasten against a box hole edge and the other end acting as a cable clampplate to grip against a cable at the exposed box hole edge, andoperating means carried with the clamp to move both ends of the clampinto effective position against a box hole edge and against a cable. 7

4. A connecter. comprising, a member formed to fit into a box hole andincluding means to expose a portion of the box hole edge, a combinationtit-shaped cable and box clamp carried on the-member opposite to the boxhole edge exposing means and including two clamp arms, anchorage meanson one clamp arm to fasten against a'box hole edge and the other clamparm acting as a cable clamp to grip against a cable at the exposed boxhole edge, a passageway in said member,

and. operating means carried with the clamp arm which fastens againstthe box hole edge and extending thru the passageway in said member toengage and force the other arm 5. A connecter comprising, a sleeveformed to fit into a box and having a portion thereof cut-away to exposea portion of the boxhole edge, a combination cable and box clamp carriedon the member opposite to' the cutaway portion, anchorage means on oneend of the clamp to fasten against a box hole edge opposite to thecut-away portion and the other end acting as a cable clamp plate to:grip against a cable at the exposed box hole edge, a passageway in saidmember, and operating means carr ed wlth clamp and extending thru thepassagewayin the member to move the box hole anchorage end of the clampinto position against a box edge and the other end again'stacable. I

6. A connecter comprising, a sleeve formed to fit into a box hole andhaving a portion thereof cut-away at one end to expose a portion of thebox hole edge and including an extension overhanging the cute-awayportion,

said sleeve being providedwith a slot formed at the exposed box holeedge, and operating means carried with one arm andreaching thru theslot'in the sleeve to force both arms ,of the clamp apart.

7. A connecter comprising; a sleeve with a bushing at its inner end,.and beingcut-away at its outer end, forming a transverse abutment edgebetween the sleeve ends, a rib-0n thesleeve in the plane of thetransverse edge, and a slot formed in the cut-away end op-'- posite tothe transverseedge; a U-shaped cable and box clamp mounted on the.sleeve from the inner end. including two clamp arms disposedproximatethe slot, one arm extending beyond the transverse abutment edge andincluding box edge anchorage means formed onits end and the other armacting toclamp against a cable; and a screw threaded thru one arm,extending thru the slot in the sleeve, and bearing on'the other arm-toforce apart the clamp arms.

1 8. Aconnecter comprising; a sleeve with a bushing at its innerend',and being cut-away at its outer end, forming a transverse abutment edgebetween the sleeve ends,a rib on the sleeve in the plane of thetransverse edge, and a slot formed in the cut-away end opposite to thetransverse edge, a U -shapedcable and box clamp mounted on the sleevefrom the inner end including two arms disposed proximate the slot, bothclamp arms made,

long enough to extend beyond the transverse abutment edge,box anchoragemeansformed on one clamp arm and the other arm acting as a cable clampplate; and'a screw threaded thru that clamp arm which is provided with;the anchorage means, said screw being passed thru the slot in the sleeveand bearing on the cable clamp plate. r

9. A connecter comprising, a sleeve provided with a cut-away portionforming an opening therein to uncover a portion of a box edge when thesleeve is mounted in a box hole, a passageway in said sleeve,a U-shapedtwo-arm clamp carried on the sleeve and the free end of one arm movablydisposed proximate the opening, and operating means carried with theconnecter sleeve and passing through the passageway to force the freeends of the clamp armsapartto anchor one against a box edge and clampthe other against a cable.

10 A connecter comprising a sleeve, a notch in one end of said sleeve,an opening through the sleeve Wall at the end opposite to the notch,stop means on the sleeve to position a sleeve in a box hole, a U-shapedclamp including arms disposed in the notch and embracing a portion ofthe sleeve Wall, box hole anchorage means at the end of one arm; andoperating means mounted on one arm extending through the opening in thesleeve,

and engaging the other arm to hold together the sleeve and clamp and tospread the arms apart. I g

'11. A connecter comprising; a combination cable and box clamp includinga box clamp arm with box hole edge anchorage means formed thereonandwith its free end adapted to project through a box hole and be disposedwithin a box, and a cable clamp plate carried With the box clamp arm; aconnecter member, a passageway through said member and operatlng meansextending freely through the passageway and carried on the free endof'the'anchorage arm inside a box to simultaneously move both ends ofsaid clamp to force the anchorage means against'a box edge and bear theclamp plate against a cable.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEWIS H. CHURCH.

